Our guest speaker at our February get-together, fellow-member Major Darrell Hall, opened the proceedings with a light-hearted instalment from the MGH series which he recently showed in Johannesburg entitled "Greetings from Durban" and then proceded to the more serious main theme, "The Raid on the Docks at St. Nazaire" in March 1942". This was the only Atlantic dry dock big enough to take the German battleship TIRPITZ. If it was neutralised it could reduce the chances of that ship venturing from her moorings in Norway to attack allied shipping in the Atlantic. Commandos in Britain furnished 80 men as demolition experts, while No.2 Commando served as a covering force with about 100 men. The naval force consisted of a destroyer, the Campbeltown under Lt-Cmdr Beattie (loaded with five tons of explosives she would ram the lock gates) and light surface craft to transport the Commandos. The date was fixed for March 28.
The last stage of the journey up the Loire was made under German colours. Signals were sent to the shore batteries in German saying that the ships had been damaged and requesting permission to proceed to St. Nazaire. In five tense minutes they passed the main batteries without receiving any damage. At 0127 hours the Germans opened fire in earnest, the Campbeltown hauled down the false colours, hoisted the white Ensign and returned the fire. At 0134 she crashed into the lock gates. The main part of the operation was complete. Having landed under heavy enemy fire the Commandos then proceeded to demolish many key installations in the dock area, suffering heavy casualties in the process.
Throughout these operations the naval force had been exchanging heavy fire at close range with the ships in the port and shore emplacements. Of the 18 craft which had entered the Loire estuary, only two launches returned safely to England. Only five men managed to return home overland, via Spain, while 169 of their comrades were killed. The rest were sent into prison camps. Although the Campbeltown was searched the Germans failed to discover the explosive charge and the delayed fuses. Before abandoning ship the sailors had opened the seacocks and the ship had gone down at the stern. Some hours later the charges on the Campbeltown exploded, demolishing the lock gates and killing all the German military personn el which had come on board and scores of bystanders. The Tirpitz never ventured from her Norwegian lair, for the dock at St. Nazaire was out of action for the rest of the war.
After a number of questions had been put and some general discussion Dr. Neville Hopkins warmly thanked Darrell for an excellently presented talk.
FUTURE EVENTS
MARCH 14TH MR GRAHAM DOMINY from the Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, will give a talk on "A Comparison of the Battles of Little Big Horn (General Custer against the Red Indians) and Isandlwana".
April 11th Cmdt Mick McKenna will talk on "The Rhodesian African Rifles and the Grey Scouts".
The venue for all meetings is the functions room, first floor, Westville North Library, 167 Blair Atholl Road, Westville. The robot-controlled intersection of Blair Atholl- Iver - Dunkeld Roads. (Dunkeld Rd is the extension of Quarry Rd from the Northern Freeway). Meetings are held on the second Thursday in the month except when the second Thursday falls on a publio holiday, in which case the meeting will take place on the third Thursday commencing at 19H45 (7.45p.m.) Ice will be supplied but please bring your own GLASS and canned or bottled refreshments. FRIENDS AND INTERESTED PERSONS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
OUTSTANDING SUBS
Please send outstanding subs to The Secretary/Treasurer, P.O. Box 52090 Saxonwold 2132, and not to the undersigned. Prompt payment eases the task of the Secretary/Treasurer.
(Mrs)Tania van der Watt
Secretary: Durban Branch
S.A. Military History Society
Box 870 Hillcrest 3650
Tel. 74mmmm